immersionlog

〜はもちろん・〜はもとより

not to mention, let alone, of course

Noun + はもちろん / はもとより … も

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はもちろん takes one item as obvious and adds another: 彼は英語はもちろん、中国語も話せる, "he speaks Chinese, not to mention English". The first item is the expected one; the second, with も, is the addition.

It's useful for praising things and making recommendations: この店は味はもちろん、雰囲気もいい, "the atmosphere is great, not to mention the food".

はもとより means the same and is more formal and written.

Compare はともかく, which does the opposite: it sets the first item aside instead of taking it for granted. In speech, you'll also hear it the other way round: もちろん英語も話せる, "of course he speaks English too".

Examples

  • 彼かれは英語えいごはもちろん、中国語ちゅうごくごも話はなせる。

    He speaks Chinese, and English of course.

  • この店みせは味あじはもちろん、雰囲気ふんいきもいい。

    This place has a great atmosphere, not to mention the food.

  • 週末しゅうまつはもちろん、平日へいじつも込こんでいる。

    It's busy on weekdays too, never mind weekends.

  • 子こどもはもちろん、大人おとなも楽たのしめる。

    Adults can enjoy it too, not just children.

  • 日本国内にほんこくないはもちろん、海外かいがいからも注文ちゅうもんがある。

    We get orders from abroad, not just from within Japan.

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